tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post5348265473801056477..comments2024-03-28T07:07:50.059-05:00Comments on ***The Starry-Eyed Revue***: Review: Second Star by Alyssa B. Sheinmelstarryeyedjenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-80625497504197652862014-04-16T07:41:56.842-05:002014-04-16T07:41:56.842-05:00I don't think I could have hated it because of...I don't think I could have hated it because of how much I enjoyed the first half of the novel, but it was definitely kind of a cluster as the story wore on. I was really hoping for more from a book featuring Peter and the Lost Boys as surfers. o_Ostarryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-74793333288162233822014-04-16T07:39:34.831-05:002014-04-16T07:39:34.831-05:00Ha, when I stumbled upon that GIF in my search, I ...Ha, when I stumbled upon that GIF in my search, I knew it was made for this review, lol. I probably liked both this one and Tiger Lily about the same. They were both very different retellings, but both left me unhappy with the endings. :(starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-41189895125306734772014-04-16T07:38:08.486-05:002014-04-16T07:38:08.486-05:00I agree with you completely, I really liked the fi...I agree with you completely, I really liked the first half and probably would have rated the story higher if it had kept on in that vein. But the second half was poorly executed, as you say. :(starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-38745473093296851172014-04-16T07:36:55.254-05:002014-04-16T07:36:55.254-05:00It was kind of bizarre, but in a good way. Lol. I ...It was kind of bizarre, but in a good way. Lol. I think the contemporary setting actually worked for the story as it was presented because it's not a strict retelling, but I can see why it would be off-putting.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-60548406964825000822014-04-14T04:27:43.451-05:002014-04-14T04:27:43.451-05:00I rated this the same as you, Jen. It was kind of ...I rated this the same as you, Jen. It was kind of meandering for the most part, and it wasn't a standout book, but but I enjoyed it enough to give it 3 stars. This Wendy didn't hate it, so that's not too bad. ;)<br /><br />Wendy @ <a href="http://www.themidnightgarden.net/2014/04/sheisnotinvisible.html" rel="nofollow">The Midnight Garden</a>Wendy Darlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13471461156849725177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-47716988339567615822014-04-11T18:24:02.989-05:002014-04-11T18:24:02.989-05:00Haha that gif made it look like it was made for yo...Haha that gif made it look like it was made for your review. I really like the idea of a Peter Pan retelling. The only other one I know is Tiger Lily but I'm assuming it's something to do with Peter Pan. I'll probably read this, I do like my retellings ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-35530893520957854312014-04-10T17:55:13.500-05:002014-04-10T17:55:13.500-05:00The first half of this was an easy 4-5 star read f...The first half of this was an easy 4-5 star read for me. But the twist in the middle and the second half completely lost me. I loved the contemporary setup and how many elements of the original tale the author included, but all that stuff in the middle? I didn't find it was executed well, so I didn't enjoy it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-22879860163909964652014-04-09T20:02:14.041-05:002014-04-09T20:02:14.041-05:00The whole setup sounds really bizarre to me. Like ...The whole setup sounds really bizarre to me. Like Kristen, I'm not sold on the contemporary setting for some reason. I suppose that's because contemps. are generally a reflection of life, and this one has this too good to be true sorta vibe. Maybe I'm being too hasty, and the setting brings some originality to the story, but I'm still not convinced. I'm sorry you were disappointed by the ending, but I'm glad you found redeeming qualities about the story. I'll have to take a pass on this one, but I really enjoyed your fair and balanced review, lady. <3Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12274355208601978550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-24907028413770519242014-04-09T19:23:05.001-05:002014-04-09T19:23:05.001-05:00The contemporary setting didn't really bother ...The contemporary setting didn't really bother me because it still had an element of otherworldliness to it. But, yeah, not a fan of the ending. :0/starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-56228167589103653002014-04-09T12:59:50.877-05:002014-04-09T12:59:50.877-05:00Hrm, not sure I'll read this one. There are as...Hrm, not sure I'll read this one. There are aspects that appeal to me (Hook) but I'm just not sure the contemporary setting would do much for me. I'm scared about this ending. Wonderful review JenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12630672600904860698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-79680265236274569222014-04-09T08:43:08.446-05:002014-04-09T08:43:08.446-05:00I love Peter Pan, too...the idea of never growing ...I love Peter Pan, too...the idea of never growing up or getting older. No responsibilities. It's a powerful fantasy, and I think the author captures that aspect well in the story. I seriously would have enjoyed this so much more if it hadn't been for that ending. :(starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-77668684441506547912014-04-09T08:41:16.213-05:002014-04-09T08:41:16.213-05:00There are very few retellings that just absolutely...There are very few retellings that just absolutely blow me away -- The Lunar Chronicles and Cruel Beauty are the ones that come to mind -- but I'm still always intrigued enough to see how an author goes about pulling off a retelling.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-47042518969266913102014-04-09T08:39:39.619-05:002014-04-09T08:39:39.619-05:00I could totally understand reading it for what it ...I could totally understand reading it for what it is as opposed to a retelling if you didn't know any better. It's a very liberal retelling, to be sure.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-49375712154435562222014-04-09T04:55:15.361-05:002014-04-09T04:55:15.361-05:00GAH I WANT THIS SO BAD. Peter Pan was my childhood...GAH I WANT THIS SO BAD. Peter Pan was my childhood cruse (um, still is??! XD lol) and besides Alice in Wonderland my utterly favourite fairy tale. I think I'm going to throw everything to the wind and just buy this book already, because heck, I NEED it. I love the premise and I love that it uses elements and names and places from the original story. Bit worried about that ending though...hehe. Epic review there, Jen!CG @ Paper Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14954615708675952085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-72268125885584820322014-04-08T14:56:19.605-05:002014-04-08T14:56:19.605-05:00I think I almost always like the IDEA of a re-tell...I think I almost always like the IDEA of a re-telling more than I actually like them. I do plan on reading this one--and I think it sounds pretty interesting--but I hate it when the ending falls off the deep end. I'll lower my expectations a bit when reading this one. Great review! Natalie @Natflix&Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12738039522965794238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-19033036797924539232014-04-08T13:33:39.631-05:002014-04-08T13:33:39.631-05:00I was curious to see what Peter Pan people thought...I was curious to see what Peter Pan people thought of this... <br /><br />I've never read Peter Pan or saw any of the films. To me it read as a dark contemporary until I finally caught onto the whole Peter Pan tie-in (about 2/3 through the book... whoops!). I think this fact helped me in the end because it became more about loss with a side of psych issues :/ Becoming Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03004483143855476110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-12799237112221367222014-04-08T09:15:07.443-05:002014-04-08T09:15:07.443-05:00I agree...it definitely takes some balls to take s...I agree...it definitely takes some balls to take someone else's beloved story and try to make it your own. I liked Second Star, don't get me wrong, but it felt like a race against time that didn't quite pan out as I expected. It's definitely worth a read, but it's not breaking any new ground, as far as retellings go.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-9397951340368579572014-04-08T09:06:52.800-05:002014-04-08T09:06:52.800-05:00When I see books based on a beloved fairy tale (Al...When I see books based on a beloved fairy tale (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz), I always say that the author of said book has such balls. I think it's quite an undertaking, and leaves them open to criticism even more so than those who penned an original plot. This book is quite interesting, though. I think I'm going to give it a go, anyway.<br /><br />Thanks for the wonderful review, Jen!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107816571044347474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-84504790537398099682014-04-08T08:24:45.954-05:002014-04-08T08:24:45.954-05:00Actually, for me, it DID work as a retelling becau...Actually, for me, it DID work as a retelling because it kept some elements from the original story but changed them enough that they fit this modern-day retelling. I'm trying to decide if I liked it better than Tiger Lily, but I think I liked both retellings about the same, though each for different reasons.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-30256034258172121722014-04-08T08:22:41.071-05:002014-04-08T08:22:41.071-05:00I've only read Tiger Lily besides this one, I ...I've only read Tiger Lily besides this one, I think. And both made me sad. I actually really enjoyed this story as a retelling, but there were other elements of the story that left something to be desired, though I wouldn't consider the love triangle or Wendy's behavior to be on that list.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-4575698585708978112014-04-08T08:18:44.565-05:002014-04-08T08:18:44.565-05:00It's an interesting retelling, but if you'...It's an interesting retelling, but if you're a fan of HEAs, you probably won't be satisfied with the ending for this one. I like open endings, myself, but I think it was the way in which this one was left open that left me disappointed.starryeyedjenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841350560201331032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-45042405200534004072014-04-08T07:40:41.065-05:002014-04-08T07:40:41.065-05:00Ooh, you had me there at Peter Pan retelling. I...Ooh, you had me there at Peter Pan retelling. I've been a lover of Peter Pan since Tiger Lily.<br />But sad to hear that this book didn't really feels like a retelling and that the ending was disappointing Maybe I'll try this someday, but not soon.<br />Anyway, thanks for sharing!<br /><br />Neysa @ <a href="http://papierrevue.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Papier Revue</a>Papier Revuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04929244257372033473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-41950519123822377812014-04-08T06:47:54.303-05:002014-04-08T06:47:54.303-05:00I actually haven't read a lot of Peter Pan ret...I actually haven't read a lot of Peter Pan retellings, so this concept is intriguing. But the love triangle element turned me away, so I didn't choose to read this. Also the fact of what happens in the end in the original. I'm not sure what the conclusion here is, but I doubt it's a big HEA, which I'm also a fan of. I'm not sure what I think of the Wendy in this book, as it sounds like she's one of the most altered characters, though it makes sense that she'd be off kilter after losing her brothers. <br /><br />I like your discussion about what makes a retelling, and the best way to write one. I prefer retellings that take the spirit of the original and make something new out of it. But you're right, there's a danger of going too far from the original and being unrecognizable. Or being too close to it, so that the details seem repetitive and only put in to fulfill the original tale. Stories like Beauty and the Beast are great for retellings because they're more about an idea, and you can retell them in a large variety of ways and still see a sliver of the original. Thanks for this honest review!Lauren @ Love is not a trianglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15388832613855107816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2773985780576975329.post-89681575890114330592014-04-08T01:42:10.011-05:002014-04-08T01:42:10.011-05:00I was never a fan of Peter Pan and it looks like t...I was never a fan of Peter Pan and it looks like this book might make me know more about him. Was the ending that disappointing, or it is still worth reading? I added this on my TBR pile and now I am having second thoughts.Ella (In Constant Reverie)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00826240858606977478noreply@blogger.com